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Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Matisyahu Day on RFN

Matisyahu with Steve Levine, Jerusalem 2011

Here is a picture of Matisyahu visiting Radio Free Nachlaot's studios at the Jerusalem Media Group's
in 2011, where he was interviewed by Steve Levine, and recorded "Some
Day" with our friend Hermie Wolf.

We're honoring Matis today on RFN for
the high road he took when BDS bullied Rototom Sunsplash into demanding
he alone of the dozens of artists make a political statement in order to
play. He declined. They cut him from the bill. Antisemitism in the very
last place it should be - the musical community. We are officially disgusted.

We find it offensive that not a single one of the dozens of other artists
were asked to make a political statement in order to perform at the
Rototom Sunsplash Festival in Spain. Only the Jew. We find it offensive
that the organizers of Rototom caved to BDS activist demands to single
out the only Jewish performer to be examined for his politics. We find it
offensive that other artists were not informed of the actions of the
Rototom Sunsplash organizers and didn't have the opportunity to protest
or to stand with Matisyahu; many of them didn't even hear what was
happening until it showed up on social media.

This was Matisyahu's statement today:

"The festival organizers contacted me because they were getting pressure
from the BDS movement. They wanted me to write a letter, or make a
video, stating my positions on Zionism and the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict to pacify the BDS people. I support peace and compassion for
all people. My music speaks for itself, and I do not insert politics
into my music. Music has the power to transcend the intellect, ideas,
and politics, and it can unite people in the process.
The festival kept insisting that I clarify my personal views; which
felt like clear pressure to agree with the BDS political agenda.
Honestly it was appalling and offensive, that as the one publicly
Jewish-American artist scheduled for the festival they were trying to
coerce me into political statements. Were any of the other artists
scheduled to perform asked to make political statements in order to
perform? No artist deserves to be put in such a situation simply to
perform his or her art. Regardless of race, creed, country, cultural
background, etc, my goal is to play music for all people. As musicians
that is what we seek. - Blessed Love, Matis"

Our revenge? MUSIC, and lots of it.

We'll be playing a lot of Matisyahu and a whole lot moreof the best Jewish, Israeli, and World Music as well as the best classic rock, and of course, Reb Shlomo, and the Grateful Dead - all right here on Radio Free Nachlaot - broadcasting live 24/6 from Undisclosed Studio B Jerusalem (with a satellite studio "A" in Berkeley, California).

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